The Tasmanian Rascal (Glutoaquaesmalus harrisii) evolved from the Tasmanian Devil. 50,000 years ago the Tasmanian Devil almost faced extinction due to the Facial Tumor Cancer, however thanks to isolation of the devils, the Tasmanian Miracle’s have evolved. The Rascal has larger eyes (with night vision) than the Tasmanian Devil, and has also evolved webbed claws and strong hind legs as they have started to swim, as the isolated devils were located more in the main land. Their fur colour is a light brown with white patches on the shoulder and hip. Their mating habits gave also changed. However the devilish behavior has not changed much at all, thus giving it the name Tasmanian Rascal. Its Latin name literally means Glutton- glutton, greedy eater, aquaes-water, malus-bad, mischievous.
Taxonomy:
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Dasyuromorphia
Family
Dasyuridae
Genus
Gluttonaquaesmalus
Species
Gluttonaquaesmalus harrisii
Figure 1: Labelled Diagram of a Tasmanian Rascal - Drawn and Labelled by Tammy Vanderhoek
Habitat: Tasmania’s landscape will not have changed too much in 50,000 years, geographically it will have moved up slightly along with Australia’s movement towards the north. The Tasmanian Rascal live mainly on the coat of Tasmania. Living in dens close to the ocean to be close to a new range of food in the sea, and still close enough to vegetation where they can find carcasses to eat too. Their large hind legs let them run/ leap fast and can travel long distances, in one night a Rascal might make couple rounds of its territory which can get up to 40 sq km big. Adaptations:
Behavioral:
1. Swims Now the Tasmanian Rascal lives in the coast of Tasmania they have started to develop swimming techniques. During the day Tasmanian Rascals are taking a nap in their den, bathing in the sun or dipping in the water too cool off. At dusk they will Start off their scavenging/ hunt in the water whilst there is still light. They will eat small fish at around depths of 2-8 meters under water using their webbed feet and open oysters and clams for meals as well. Their eyes have adapted well to seeing under water and by the time its dark the Tasmanian Rascal will move out of the water and begin its nightly scavenge for carcasses around their territory. This swimming adaptation has introduced the Tasmanian Rascal to a whole new range of foods, which they have grown fond of as they can get a decent meal from just the ocean without too much hassle. 2. Family oriented Unlike the solitary Tasmanian Devil, the Rascal is very sociable. They prefer to stay in couples for most of their lifetime. When a couple has offspring, they will usually live with them for about half a year (first 4 months are spent on the teat of the mother. During the 2 months spent out of the mothers pouch the father will take over and show or demonstrate how to swim. Young Rascals are frightened of the water at first, however the strong connection between the father and the offspring calms them down and eventually will start to swim. When the offspring leave its parents they find their partner who they will spend most of their life with. When one partner dies the other becomes solitary and will not (usually) find another.
Structural: 1. Webbed feet and Large hind legs
Figure 2: Webbed foot of a Capybara
Like the Platypus and the Capybara the Tasmanian Rascal has developed webbed feet for its swimming ability. Their webbed feet have a sharp toes (claws), which help to open clams, rummage through material, grab onto carcasses, steer and balance their swimming. Their hind legs are much larger than their ancestor (Tasmanian Devil) as there is more power needed to swim. These two adaptations have been ideally developed for the improvement of their swimming. 2. Large eyes The Tasmanian Rascal has developed larger eyes which also have a better night vision ability than its ancestor the Tasmanian Devil. As Rascals are nocturnal, their eyes (5cm in diameter) have evolved to see greater distance into the night landscape. This ability enables them to find carcasses quickly, combined with their sense of smell and hearing. These eyes are very similar to those of the Tarsier (who also have excellent night vision) but larger.
Physiological:
8 teats in the pouch for 8 babies The Tasmanian Devil only had 4 teats to nurse the 50 babies (that were the size of a grain of rice) this was a major physiological disadvantage to the Tasmanian devil as they had low reproduction rates. Over time the female’s pouches have grown larger and eventually 4 more teats have developed as well. This has doubled the Rascals population and survival rate. Now 8 babies are housed in a pouch and looked after during the 6 month duration they spend with their parents (4 months in pouch, 2 with parents).
Tasmanian Rascal
The Tasmanian Rascal (Glutoaquaesmalus harrisii) evolved from the Tasmanian Devil. 50,000 years ago the Tasmanian Devil almost faced extinction due to the Facial Tumor Cancer, however thanks to isolation of the devils, the Tasmanian Miracle’s have evolved. The Rascal has larger eyes (with night vision) than the Tasmanian Devil, and has also evolved webbed claws and strong hind legs as they have started to swim, as the isolated devils were located more in the main land. Their fur colour is a light brown with white patches on the shoulder and hip. Their mating habits gave also changed. However the devilish behavior has not changed much at all, thus giving it the name Tasmanian Rascal. Its Latin name literally means Glutton- glutton, greedy eater, aquaes-water, malus-bad, mischievous.
Taxonomy:
Habitat:
Tasmania’s landscape will not have changed too much in 50,000 years, geographically it will have moved up slightly along with Australia’s movement towards the north. The Tasmanian Rascal live mainly on the coat of Tasmania. Living in dens close to the ocean to be close to a new range of food in the sea, and still close enough to vegetation where they can find carcasses to eat too. Their large hind legs let them run/ leap fast and can travel long distances, in one night a Rascal might make couple rounds of its territory which can get up to 40 sq km big.
Adaptations:
Behavioral:
1. Swims
Now the Tasmanian Rascal lives in the coast of Tasmania they have started to develop swimming techniques. During the day Tasmanian Rascals are taking a nap in their den, bathing in the sun or dipping in the water too cool off. At dusk they will Start off their scavenging/ hunt in the water whilst there is still light. They will eat small fish at around depths of 2-8 meters under water using their webbed feet and open oysters and clams for meals as well. Their eyes have adapted well to seeing under water and by the time its dark the Tasmanian Rascal will move out of the water and begin its nightly scavenge for carcasses around their territory. This swimming adaptation has introduced the Tasmanian Rascal to a whole new range of foods, which they have grown fond of as they can get a decent meal from just the ocean without too much hassle.
2. Family oriented
Unlike the solitary Tasmanian Devil, the Rascal is very sociable. They prefer to stay in couples for most of their lifetime. When a couple has offspring, they will usually live with them for about half a year (first 4 months are spent on the teat of the mother. During the 2 months spent out of the mothers pouch the father will take over and show or demonstrate how to swim. Young Rascals are frightened of the water at first, however the strong connection between the father and the offspring calms them down and eventually will start to swim. When the offspring leave its parents they find their partner who they will spend most of their life with. When one partner dies the other becomes solitary and will not (usually) find another.
Structural: 1. Webbed feet and Large hind legs
2. Large eyes
The Tasmanian Rascal has developed larger eyes which also have a better night vision ability than its ancestor the Tasmanian Devil. As Rascals are nocturnal, their eyes (5cm in diameter) have evolved to see greater distance into the night landscape. This ability enables them to find carcasses quickly, combined with their sense of smell and hearing. These eyes are very similar to those of the Tarsier (who also have excellent night vision) but larger.
Physiological:
8 teats in the pouch for 8 babies
The Tasmanian Devil only had 4 teats to nurse the 50 babies (that were the size of a grain of rice) this was a major physiological disadvantage to the Tasmanian devil as they had low reproduction rates. Over time the female’s pouches have grown larger and eventually 4 more teats have developed as well. This has doubled the Rascals population and survival rate. Now 8 babies are housed in a pouch and looked after during the 6 month duration they spend with their parents (4 months in pouch, 2 with parents).